VERSE Vol. 21 New cultural creativity is happening in Japan

The first is Japan’s national trend brand “BEAMS”, which has maintained youthful vitality for more than 40 years. We had a "long interview" conversation with the president Shi Yuyang, and listened to him share the secrets of the brand and his observations of fashion trends in the past fifty years. We are honored to collaborate with BEAMS on the cover of the president. "PARCO" in Shibuya, Tokyo, was also born in the 1970s and has always been at the forefront of trends. This year (2023) marks the 50th anniversary of Shibuya PARCO. They demolished the entire building before the epidemic and now reappears in Tokyo with a new attitude that combines culture, art and fashion trends. What possibilities does a retail mall demonstrate? The well-known Japanese hotel "Hoshino Resorts" is a hotel that many Taiwanese people yearn for. The editor went to visit "Hoshinoya Karuizawa" where the group was founded, and interviewed the president Yoshiji Hoshino to explore how they combine the hotel model with local charm. The epidemic has indeed made people yearn for nature more. "SANU 2nd Home" is a brand-new travel and lifestyle proposal. It launches a subscription membership system based on the concept of consumers' "second home". Over the past two years, it has grown rapidly regardless of membership or number of rooms. growing up. SANU founder Takahiro Honma was previously a key promoter of many style hotels in Tokyo. He is also involved in the planning of the "Hotel K5", a high-end design hotel that is currently very popular in Tokyo. Also participating in the planning and development of K5 is another company called "Staple", which promotes local regeneration and new work models with "A Soft Developer" as its core. The reports from the founders of both companies are excellent. "Transit General Office" founded in 2001 can be said to be the most active catering planning company in Japan. It has introduced Taiwan's mango ice brand "Ice Monster" and Australia's famous brunch restaurant "bills" to Japan, and continues to create Tokyo's unique catering. Culture and lifestyle. What magic does the person in charge, Nakamura Saduhiro, have? Tokyo's latest cultural attraction is the "Kadokawa Musashino Museum" designed by the famous architect Kengo Kuma. It was established by Kadokawa, Japan's largest cross-media publishing group. It shows how this publishing group has gone further after digitalization and diversified IP. Be the first in the world to "realize" and "experience" content. Early November is Tokyo Art Week, and "VERSE" was invited to visit to find out how this young art exhibition is disrupting the city. We also interviewed Eriko Aisaka, director of the New National Museum of Art in Tokyo, to see how the largest national museum of art is transforming. In addition, this issue also has a very special supplement, introducing walking guides to three of Tokyo’s coolest creative districts right now: Kabutocho, Shimokitazawa, and Shibuya Juken Eating Guides. Whether it is an evergreen brand, a new hotel, a restaurant concept or a neighborhood transformation, all of the above illustrate the importance of creative planning, which is also the key to what makes Japan’s cultural industry special. The cover story of this issue is not only an in-depth travel guide to the new trends happening in Japan, but also a teaching manual for creative planning.